diff --git a/mercurial/sshpeer.py b/mercurial/sshpeer.py
--- a/mercurial/sshpeer.py
+++ b/mercurial/sshpeer.py
@@ -466,25 +466,40 @@
         return self._sendrequest(cmd, args, framed=True).read()
 
     def _callpush(self, cmd, fp, **args):
+        # The server responds with an empty frame if the client should
+        # continue submitting the payload.
         r = self._call(cmd, **args)
         if r:
             return '', r
+
+        # The payload consists of frames with content followed by an empty
+        # frame.
         for d in iter(lambda: fp.read(4096), ''):
             self._writeframed(d)
         self._writeframed("", flush=True)
+
+        # In case of success, there is an empty frame and a frame containing
+        # the integer result (as a string).
+        # In case of error, there is a non-empty frame containing the error.
         r = self._readframed()
         if r:
             return '', r
         return self._readframed(), ''
 
     def _calltwowaystream(self, cmd, fp, **args):
+        # The server responds with an empty frame if the client should
+        # continue submitting the payload.
         r = self._call(cmd, **args)
         if r:
             # XXX needs to be made better
             raise error.Abort(_('unexpected remote reply: %s') % r)
+
+        # The payload consists of frames with content followed by an empty
+        # frame.
         for d in iter(lambda: fp.read(4096), ''):
             self._writeframed(d)
         self._writeframed("", flush=True)
+
         return self._pipei
 
     def _getamount(self):
diff --git a/mercurial/wireprotoserver.py b/mercurial/wireprotoserver.py
--- a/mercurial/wireprotoserver.py
+++ b/mercurial/wireprotoserver.py
@@ -347,12 +347,16 @@
         return [data[k] for k in keys]
 
     def forwardpayload(self, fpout):
+        # We initially send an empty response. This tells the client it is
+        # OK to start sending data. If a client sees any other response, it
+        # interprets it as an error.
+        _sshv1respondbytes(self._fout, b'')
+
         # The file is in the form:
         #
         # <chunk size>\n<chunk>
         # ...
         # 0\n
-        _sshv1respondbytes(self._fout, b'')
         count = int(self._fin.readline())
         while count:
             fpout.write(self._fin.read(count))